אַרְיֵה (ar.yeh)
ar.yeh
lion
A:N-MQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- A:N-M
Word Overview
The noun ar.yeh denotes a lion, appearing in the Hebrew Bible as the Aramaic equivalent of the more common Hebrew term for the same animal. This specific form is rare, occurring only once in the canonical Scriptures within the book of Daniel, where it refers to the beasts emerging from the sea in the prophet’s vision.
In this context, the word carries its standard zoological meaning but functions symbolically to represent powerful earthly kingdoms. The sources identify it as a direct Aramaic cognate of the Hebrew ar.yeh (H0738B), confirming that despite the linguistic shift from Hebrew to Aramaic in Daniel’s later chapters, the imagery of the lion remains consistent in its association with strength and dominion.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word for lion in this passage comes from the Aramaic section of Daniel, reminding us that God’s message reaches across languages and cultures. In Daniel 7, the vision uses familiar animal imagery to describe powerful kingdoms. The lion here stands for a dominant empire, yet even its strength is subject to God’s ultimate authority.
For your faith, this offers comfort. No matter how fierce or overwhelming worldly powers may seem, they are part of a larger story that God oversees. The vision shows that human pride and force do not have the final word. Instead, God raises up and humbles nations according to His purpose.
You can trust that justice will prevail. When you face uncertainty or fear about current events, remember that the same God who interprets dreams also holds history in His hands. Your hope rests not in human strength but in the eternal kingdom He establishes.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [was] like/ a lion1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- כְ/אַרְיֵ֔ה1×
Key Verses
-
Daniel 7:4
“The first was like a lion, and had eagle’s wings. I watched until its wings were plucked, and it was lifted up from the earth and made to stand on two feet as a man. A man’s heart was given to it.
This verse introduces the lion as the first beast, symbolizing a powerful kingdom that is ultimately transformed and judged by God.